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Single Idea 22261

[filed under theme 24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 6. Liberalism / a. Liberalism basics ]

Full Idea

The liberal claim that the right is prior to the good means that individual rights cannot be sacrificed for the sake of the general good, and that the basic principles of justice cannot be premised on any particular vision of the good life.

Gist of Idea

Liberals say rights always come first, and justice is neutral on social values

Source

Michael J. Sandel (Procedural republic and unencumbered self [1984], 'The right')

Book Ref

Sandel,Michael J.: 'Public Philosophy: Essays' [Harvard 2005], p.157

A Reaction

In Rawls, the first thesis is chosen from a neutral position, and the second is all that is needed to affirm rights as basic. These two are the target of Sandel's communitarian claims. Utilitarians will make the sacrifices. No consensus on the good life!

The 25 ideas with the same theme [founding ideas of liberal politics]:

21064 A lawful civil state must embody freedom, equality and independence for its members [Kant]
7211 Prevention of harm to others is the only justification for exercising power over people [Mill]
23036 The good is identified by the capacities of its participants [Green,TH, by Muirhead]
22872 Liberals aim to allow individuals to realise their capacities [Dewey]
23170 Liberal opinions are tentative rather than dogmatic, and are always responsive to new evidence [Russell]
23172 Empiricist Liberalism is the only view for someone who favours scientific evidence and happiness [Russell]
23171 Empiricism is ethically superior, because dogmatism favours persecution and hatred [Russell]
23859 True democracy is the subordination of society to the individual [Weil]
23522 In an organised society all actions have some effect on other people [Hart,HLA]
15669 People endorse equality, universality and inclusiveness, just by their communicative practices [Habermas, by Finlayson]
21008 Liberalism does not need a comprehensive account of value [Nussbaum]
23390 In a liberal democracy all subjects of authority have a right to determine the authority [Kymlicka]
22862 Liberals take people as they are, and take their preferences to be their interests [Lukes]
22808 Liberalism is minimal government, or individual rights, or equality [Avineri/De-Shalit]
23081 Liberal basics are pluralism, freedom, rights, equality, and distributive justice - for autonomy [Kekes]
7593 Liberals focus on universal human freedom, natural rights, and tolerance [Scruton, by PG]
22261 Liberals say rights always come first, and justice is neutral on social values [Sandel]
21905 Liberal theory starts from the governed, not from the governor [May]
21117 Liberal citizens have a moral requirement to respect freedom and equality [Shorten]
22835 Liberals value freedom and equality, but the society itself must decide on its values [Charvet]
23128 The opposite of liberalism is dogmatism [Gopnik]
23142 People are fallible, so liberalism tries to distribute power [Gopnik]
23143 Liberals have tried very hard to build a conscience into their institutions [Gopnik]
22602 Over several centuries a set of eight main liberal values was established [Dunt]
24158 Liberalism wants separate powers, press freedom, independence and rule of law, and rights [Hutton]